Kansas City built Transit is finally seen
FordInsideNews.com
May 16, 2012
By: Austin Rutherford

Just a month after its all-new smaller sister debuted with the front wheel drive Transit Custom, the rear wheel drive Transit has had a design patent leak just months before it was suppose to debut. Thanks to JokeForBlog, we now have a good idea what the Kansas City built Transit will look like.

The design of the front is very close to the smaller Custom model, but after that the full-size van carries its own design due to the size difference. In the US, we will see this powered by at least a diesel and the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost.

Expect the vehicle to start sales next year in North America. European sales will most likely start sooner.

The Next Wave Begins
FordInsideNews.com
May 16, 2012
By: Austin Rutherford

Now that the Fusion/Mondeo and MkZ are nearing completion. Ford is putting all efforts into the next stage of CD4 on the front burner. FIN has now learned of some interesting information of this product cadence.

As part of its ultra secretive nature, Ford has named this second wave of mid-size products simply CD4.2. This CD4 program, like CD4.1, will further combine the efforts of Ford's subsidiaries and in the process will save the company money.

According to a source connected with the program, the next Ford Edge - including MkX - and S-Max will use the same modified CD4 platform. We expect them not to share body styles however since this would compromise their current segments. All three should have their own "top hats."

This raises the question: Will the Edge be produced in Europe and/or the S-Max in North America? This is not yet known, but we will tell you either way when we find out. What we can tell you is that the current Edge was deeply wanted by Ford of Europe, but the lack of a diesel killed it. This is a problem that the next Edge will not have.

... [Read More]

Sales of Focus Up; China, Europe Hit the Wall
FordInsideNews
May 11, 2012
By: Austin Rutherford

Ford sales in the first quarter of 2012 were a double-edged sword. Even with higher sales in North America, Europe and China dragged total sales downward. Ford will have many new products in the coming months to help remedy both problems.

Ford of Europe is experiencing weakening demands for their products as the debt crisis continues. There is glimmer of hope however out of the storm for market share is on the rise. Sales of vehicles like the Focus are gaining traction allowing for this increase.

Even though many companies are slowing development of models, or canceling them altogether, Ford of Europe is pulling a page out from Ford of North America’s handbook: When in recession, speed up development. Over the course of 2012 to the end of 2013, Europe will released all-new versions of the Ranger, Transit, Kuga, Mondeo, S-Max, and Galaxy with many other all-new, face lifted, or new derivatives of models coming as well.

One of the big reasons European margins are hurting is overcapacity. Ford will however be adding capacity. “Madness!” you say? Well Ford will be... [Read More]